Lorry tailbacks at some transport hubs are continuing this weekend as Christmas stockpiling and Brexit uncertainty cause more traffic issues near the UK’s south coast.

HGVs were stacked up in a queue of at least five miles on the M20, starting in the Ashford area, as freight drivers headed to the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone, Kent.

Traffic control measures have been put in place on the carriageway in an attempt to manage the tailbacks and help those who live in the area get around.

There were also long lines of HGVs along the A20 between Capel-le-Ferne to the port of Dover in Kent.

Vehicles were also this week seen stacking up at Holyhead in Wales, the UK’s second-largest roll on-roll off ferry port.

The disruption comes after the government was warned by a parliamentary committee on Saturday about the dangers of leaving a post-transition period business deal so late.

There is now less than two weeks until 2021 and the end of the period.

A deal has yet to be agreed between the UK and the EU, leading to uncertainty in the private sector and fears that as many as 60% of businesses in Kent are not prepared for a no-deal Brexit.

Lorries without the proper paperwork could be turned away from the border from 1 January.

In a bid to head off any immediate complications at the start of 2021, some traders are stockpiling goods.

The Port of Dover chief executive Doug Bannister said on Friday he was confident the port would be able to handle any uncertainty.

He said: “Dover has a proven track record to handle disruption in a good, successful way, and we are able to manage the disruption and importantly recover the position very swiftly indeed.”

Mr Bannister added that the increase in activity before the new year could lead to a calmer January.

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